BUILDING FOR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY - Kennedy Bibliothek

districts in the United States to the problems of declining enrolments
and financial resources, using data collected in a 1975-76 telephone and
mail survey. In order to see the extent of the problem some typical
examples to show the diversity of solutions and two particular cases -
Wharton, New Jersey and Mount Holly, New Jersey - will be described in this
section.
Extent of the Problem
76. The decrease in enrolments is based on many factors. Although the
decline of the school population accounts for the majority of empty
classrooms, the out-migration of the white middle class from the inner
city to the suburbs has not been halted and further reduces the number of
pupils in many inner city schools. A third reason which has had severe
consequences in many school districts throughout the United States,
following the recent economic crisis, has been the closing of plants,
factories, and business establishments.
77. The school in the United States is both historically, and up to the
present time, the community meeting ground. This becomes more obvious as
fewer people are willing to accept unilateral governmental actions directed
at closing school facilities which are not needed anymore. Similar to the
early American frontier settlements, the community function of the school
often seems to become as important as the educational function.
In Houston, Texas, 15 schools with less than 200 students could not
be closed by the Board of Education as parents went rioting in the
streets, thus demonstrating that the value of the school as a
community facility has been recognised beyond its original educational
function.
In addition to shrinking student numbers, .the closing of the Boeing
plants in Seattle, Washington resulted in a drop of 6 000 students
in one year. A parent initiative caused the Washington State Court
to call a moratorium on all school closings until a five year study
had been done on how to use the surplus space.
78. The growing concern for the elderly causes many school districts to
team up with social services agencies in the use of empty school spaces.
Adult education classes, special enrichment programs, arts and career
education courses are the most frequented and favoured uses for surplus
space.
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